The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has given the Teachers Service Commission a seven-day ultimatum to present a counteroffer in the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks, citing delays in the negotiation process.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu expressed concern over what he described as a slow response from the TSC, despite the expiry of the 2021–2025 CBA cycle on June 30, 2025.
“We have told the Teachers Service Commission to prepare within seven days and present a counter-offer,” said Oyuu.
Oyuu said the union had undertaken consultations with various arms of government in anticipation of a formal proposal from the employer.
“We had high-level negotiations with different arms of government to come up with a fully prepared counter-offer,” he noted.
“What we want is a counter-offer. Your preparation is not our concern.”
He added that teachers across the country were disappointed by the delay, saying KNUT had expected a timely response.
“Teachers of this country are disappointed. Kenya National Union of Teachers did not expect this. What we expected was a counter-offer,” Oyuu said.
With the previous four-year CBA having come to an end, Oyuu stressed the need to finalise new terms urgently.
“Time is of the essence. The 2021–2025 CBA elapsed on June 30,” he said.
“Today is July 1, and there is no counteroffer yet. We shall not accept anything until the Teachers Service Commission places a counter-offer on the table for negotiation.”
KNUT now awaits TSC’s response within the stipulated timeframe.
Among the proposals in the 2025–2029 CBA is an annual wage increment of 60 per cent of the basic salary.
KNUT is also seeking a 30 per cent increase in allowances across all grades, along with enhanced medical cover for teachers.
Additionally, the union is advocating for an increase in hardship allowances and joint consultations with the employer regarding the review or classification of hardship areas.
The union has also opposed the removal of certain regions from the hardship category, calling for an expansion rather than a reduction of designated hardship areas.
